Bowling alley sweep mechanism



March 17, 1959 J. ZUERCHER BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP MECHANISM I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1956 INVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER BY, 3 v AT l'ORNEY J. ZUERCHER sownmc ALLEY SWEEP MECHANISM 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1956 ENVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER ATTORNEY United States Patent BOWLING ALLEY SWEEP MECHANISM John Zuercher, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to American IJVIachine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New ersey Application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,548 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) This invention relates to bowling pin spotting machines, and more particularly to an improved sweep and guard mechanism for use with such machines, which because of its novel construction is practically jam proof and bind free in its operation.

Attempts have been made to provide non-jamming and non-binding sweeps for use in removing deadwood and unwanted pins from a bowling alley and delivering such pins to the pit. This operation usually takes place after each ball of a frame is rolled. It has been found that frequently pins knocked over by a ball will roll on the alley and come to rest thereon in the path of movement of the sweep downwardly to the position it must reach adjacent an alley before it starts its rearward travel in moving fallen and unwanted standing pins into the pit. With known types of sweeps, when the latter engaged or straddled a pin lying in its downward path of movement, jamming and breakage of parts often occurred because such pin or pins formed an obstruction to the continued cyclic operation of the sweep and its operating parts.

The present invention solves the problems of prevent ing jamming of the sweep, or its incapacitation and breakage of machine parts which require either the attention of a bowling alley proprietor or his assistants in removing jams, or a skilled mechanic to make repairs or replace broken parts. Thus it will be seen that a bowling pin spotting machine provided with a sweep embodying the invention results in smoother, uninterrupted and more satisfactory play of the game of bowling not only to the proprietor of a bowling alley, but also to the players themselves.

Due to the fact that the sweep extends transversely across the alley, it also functions as a guard. Thus, if a ball is carelessly or inadvertently thrown when the sweep is down or is moving through its sweeping cycle, it will obstruct the passage of the ball and prevent it doing possible damage to parts of the machine which might be struck thereby if the sweep did not provide this guarding function.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel substantially jam and bind free sweep.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling pin spotting machine, and one wherein fallen bowling pins lying in the normal downward path of movement of the sweep, do not form a barrier to the continued normal operation of the sweep into operative position adjacent an alley or its travel along the alley.

The invention is further characterized by a novel bowling pin spotting machine sweep and guard operative to yield upwardly when it engages a fallen pin lying in its downward path of movement, and wherein a pin 'so engaged or straddled by the sweep will be moved thereby rearwardly on the alley and be delivered into the pit.

The invention also further contemplates the provision of novel sweep and guard mechanism wherein the ends of the sweep are so mounted by resilient support means that any twisting forces on the ends thereof will not cause a binding action of the rollers of the sweep carriages to which the resilient support means are attached on their supporting tracks, and thus at all times smooth and uninterrupted sweeping operation is assured.

The invention is also characterized by the provision of novel shock absorbing means mounting theends of the sweep and guard. In this manner, carelessly or inadvertently thrown balls cannot incapacitate the sweep and guard or its operating mechanism when striking it.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel sweep having resilient support means which not only act as binding prevention and shock absorbing means, but also tend to lessen materially noise due to the sweep engaging fallen wardly into the pit.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be described fully hereinafter, and then set forth fully in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of l and in which like characters of referthis specification, ence indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the novel sweep and guard and its operating means. Fig. 2 is a view showing the sweep in its down position adjacent a bowling alley.

Fig. 3 is a partial front view, partly in section, showing the novel sweep and the resilient supports mounting its ends.

Sweep and guard mechanisms constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention may be used in or rods 200 extending across alley A (Fig. 3) having j their ends supported in brackets or mounting plates 202. (Figs. 1 and 3) are provided with elongated slots 203. In order to mount the ends of bars 200 for vertical sliding movement in brackets 202,

Mounting plates 202 mounting pins 204 having enlarged T-shaped heads, are

passed through slots 203 and secured in the ends of rods 200 with the T heads resting against the outer surfaces of brackets 202. This manner of mounting rods 200 enables them to move p y in slots 203 whenever lower rod 200 or the bottom of a plate 205, des ib hereinafter, engages a pin lying across the downward path of movement of sweep mechanism 199.

In order to insure the removal of fallen pins lying in gutters R, gutter sweep plates 205 are provided. Plates 205 are attached by suitable means, such as screws 206, to bars 200. Interposed between the inner faces of plates are rubber strips or dampers 207.

and shock absorbing means. Plates- 205 also serve to secure rods 200 in their proper spaced 1 parallel operative relationship. Bars or rods 200 and.v

their coacting gutter sweep plates 205 constitute the 205 and bars 200 which serve as noise sweep assembly.

The manner of mounting rods 200 and plates 205 for slidable upward movement whenever the lower bar 200 or the bottom edge of a plate 205 strikes a fallen pin is an important feature of the invention. It will be appreciated ff that bars or rods 200 not only are operative to sweep" deadwood and unwanted pins into the pit of an alley, but

Patented Mar. 17,1959;

pins and moving them rear- They may also be employed with other types of also when located in operative sweeping position adjacent alley A and gutters R, form an effective guard for preventing carelessly or inadvertently thrown balls from damaging parts of the pin spotting machine with which the sweeping and guarding mechanism is associated, such as the pin spotting and respotting table when the latter is lifting and respotting pins on alley A.

Each mounting plate or bracket 202 is attached, as by bolts 208 projecting outwardly through holes in a support plate 210, vulcanized or otherwise suitably attached to an elongated rubber block 212, which is vulcanized or otherwise suitably attached to a bracket 214 secured by bolts 216 to ears 218 on carriage or trolley plate 220. Each plate 220 is provided with two pairs of rollers 224, which with plate 220, form a trolley or carriage designated generally 221 by means of which bars or rods 200 and plates 205 supported thereby are moved back and forth longitudinally of alley A. Robber block 212 provides a flexible mount such that each mounting plate 202 in effect is provided with a resilient pivot enabling it to pivot on a vertical axis thereby preventing any of the sets of rollers 224 from jamming or binding against a sweep track designated generally 226 due to possible unequal forces which may be exerted by pins against rods 200 or plates 205 as they are moved thereby into pit PT. In other words, blocks 212 will allow for a certain amount of misalignment of sweep bars 200 and plates 205 so that carriages 221 will be free rolling at all times.

There are two carriages 221 and two tracks 226, one at each side of alley A. Each track 226, on which its respective carriage 221 travels, consists of a fixed substantially horizontal section 228 and a movable section 230. Each track section 228 is secured adjacent the top edge of a kickback K to a pair of uprights 232 which form a part of the framework of the pin spotting machine. Uprights 232 are suitably attached to the top edge of kickbacks K.

Since the structures supporting and operating sweep and guard mechanism 199 at each side of alley A are identical in construction and operation, except for being located at opposite sides of alley A in order to obtain the desired parallel movement, it is considered only necessary to describe one, like parts bearing the same reference characters.

Movable track section 230 is pivotally attached to the forward end of fixed track section 228 by stud 233. This connection allows track section 230 to be swung to and from alley A in order to dispose sweep rods 200 and plates 205 in operative position for sweeping and guarding, and for returning them to their inoperative or dwell positions above alley A when a ball is rolled by a player. For this purpose, plate 220 of trolley or carriage 221 is connected by an adjustable rod or link 234 to one end of an arm 236, the other end of which is secured to a stud shaft 238 rotatably supported in the free end of an arm 240 of a double lever 242 pivotally supported on a stud 244 held by a suitable cross member 246 attached to uprights 232.

The other arm 248 of double lever 242 is connected by an adjustable rod or link 250 to crank arm 252 mounted on shaft 254 projecting from a suitable gear reduction motor 256. The operation of motor 256 is controlled by suitable control mechanism which may be similar in construction and operation to that described and shown in the above referred to Dumas application. Since this control mechanism forms no specific part of the present invention and is not essential to an understanding of the invention, further disclosure is omitted. It should be understood, however, that motor 256 is operated by suitable means whenever necessary to efiect the desired operation of sweep mechanism 199.

Shaft 254 extends almost all the way across the rear end of alley A and carries a crank arm 252 at each end. Each crank arm 252 actuates the sweep and guard sup- 4 porting and operating mechanism on its respective side of alley A.

Attached to each cross member 246 is a stationary gear sector 258 which meshes with gear 260 loosely mounted on stud 262 supported by arm 240 of double arm lever 242. Gear 260 also meshes with gear 264 mounted on stud shaft 238 to which arm 236 is secured, and controls the movement thereof. To somewhat counterbalance the weight of carriage 221, sweep and guide bars 200 and gutter sweep plates 205 are connected to the free ends of arms 236, the latter being provided with an extension 237 which carries a counterweight 268.

The apparatus described hereinabove is set into operation after each ball is rolled by the energization of motor 256. The starting of sweep motor 256 causes shaft 254 and crank arms 252 to turn in the direction of arrow I shown in Fig. 1. Since crank arms 252 are connected by rods 250 to arms 248 of double levers 242, the latter rotate about their pivot studs 244 thereby causing gears 260 to rotate due to their meshing with fixed gear sectors 258.

Since gears 260 are in mesh with gears 264, the latter also are rotated, and through shafts 238, effect a downward movement of the free ends of arms 236 which are connected by rods 234 to trolleys or carriages 221. A downward movement of the free ends of arms 236 thus eifects a lowering of trolleys or carriages 221 and sweep and guard bars 200 and plates 205 towards and into operative position adjacent alley A.

Trolleys or carriages 221 when in lifted or inoperative position are locked against the free end of swingable track sections 230 by lock levers 266. These track sections swing downwardly about their pivots 233 until they reach a substantially horizontal position and form an extension of stationary track sections 228. Each lock lever 266 is pivotally mounted on a stud 268 mounted in a trolley plate 220. One end of each lock lever 266 is provided with a cam edge 270 which at the proper time is urged by spring 272 into wedging engagement with the lower edge of track portion 230. It will be noted that the lower end of each connecting rod 234 is secured to a stud shaft 274 pivotally supported in plate 220. A short arm 276 attached to shaft 274 carries a roller 278. By means of this arrangement during downward motion of rods 234 fixed to shafts 274, arms 276 also fixed to shafts 274 are caused to swing upwardly, and shortly before trolleys 221 reach their horizontal positions, rollers 278 are moved into engagement with lock levers 266 to disengage cam edges 270 of levers 266 from track sections 230. This frees trolleys 221 for movement along track sections 230-428.

It will be evident that with a sweep guard construction embodying the invention, if .a fallen pin P occupies the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, no damage to any parts of the sweep or the machine can occur because sweep bars are free to move upwardly in their mounting plates or brackets 202. Furthermore, because of this novel construction, no jamming or stalling of sweep motor 256 will occur. Also a pin occupying the position shown in Fig. 2 will be held by the weight of bars 200 and plates 205 and pulled .rearwardly along alley A for delivery into the pit. Because of the resilient mounting provided by blocks 212, any misalignment of mounting plates 202 and bars 200 is compensated for, and binding of rollers 224 on track sections 230 and 228 is eliminated, thus insuring smooth operation of carriages 221 at all times.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that as soon as standing pins have been lifted by the respotting mechanism (not shown) due to the rotation of crank arms 254 by means of the connections described, arms 236 are swung through a forward and backward arc which causes trolleys 221 to move from track section 230 onto fixed section 228 and towards the pit of the alley PT While sweep and guard bars 200 and gutter sweep plates 205 sweep all fallen pins from alley A into pit PT. A similar sweeping operation takes place after each final ball of a frame is rolled in order to clear the alley for a new set of pins.

After bars 200 and plates 205 have reached the end of alley A, the reverse movement of arms 235, due to their described connections, causes rods 234 to push trolleys 221 and bars 200 back to the front of pin supporting part or deck the alley, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, where they remain in guarding position until the lifted pins are respotted on alley A. After the lifted pins have been respotted, by mechanism similar to that shown and described in Dumas application, Serial No. 226,359, the rotation of crank arms 252 causes arms 236 to be rocked upwardly, thereby lifting carriages 221, bars 2% and plates 205 attached thereto, and track sections 230. Since this lifting operation also results in the disengagement of rollers 278 from lock levers 266, each tension spring 272 urges cam like edges 270 of levers 266 into frictional engagement with track sections 23%, and lock trolleys 221 against sliding downwardly or backwardly on now inclined track sections 230. This action completes a full sweep cycle and motor 256 is de-energized.

What I claim is:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine, a sweep, said sweep comprising a fixed substantially horizontal track attached to each of the kickbacks of a bowling alley, a pivoted track connected adjacent each of the forward ends of said fixed tracks, a pair of spaced roller carriages, each of said carriages adapted for movement along one of said connected fixed and pivoted tracks, a guarding member extending transversely across said alley for engaging pins on said alley, rigid supports each attached at its upper end to one of said carriages and supporting at its lower end one end of said guarding member, an elastomeric member mounting each support on its associated carriage for pivotal and/or yielding movement of said support to prevent interference with the free movement of said carriages along their associated tracks, means for moving said guarding member to and from operative position adjacent said alley and means for traveling said carriage along said tracks moving said guarding member along said alley urging said pins engaged thereby into the pit of said alley.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid supports are provided with elongated slots adjacent their lower ends and wherein said guarding member comprises a plurality of spaced rods, the ends of said rods being mounted for free upward movement in said slots relative to said carriages whereby when said sweep is moved into operative position adjacent said alley, pins directly beneath are engaged thereby without distortion of said supports or associated mechanism.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric member comprises a rubber block fixed at one side to its associated carriage and secured at its other side to the upper end of its associated rigid support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,190,651 Hedenskoog July 11, 1916 2,657,929 Auchincloss et al Nov. 3, 1953 2,702,706 Dowd et al. Feb. 22, 1955 2,729,449 Montooth Jan. 3, 1956 2,821,395 Dumas Jan. 28, 1958 

